Corpus Christi Defenseman Hanson makes NCAA Commitment

Photo Credit: Kelsey Trevino

The Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are proud to announce that defenseman Joel Hanson has committed to play NCAA hockey for University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the WIAC.

The ‘05 skater from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hanson will join the Blugolds in Wisconsin in the fall. Hanson is a third-year defenseman in the NAHL. The 6-foot-4 blueliner played 126 career games in the Midwest Division with the Kenai River Brown Bears. In his debut year, the 20-year-old laced up in 37 games for the Brown Bears in the 2023-24 season. Hanson registered four points, scoring a goal while notching three assists. Moving into his second season, the defenseman laced up in 55 games for Kenai River. Hanson registered two goals and made seven assists from the blue line.

Moving into his final season of junior hockey, the State of Hockey skater returned to the Brown Bears to kick off the season. The 20-year-old played in 34 games with Kenai River, registering 10 points with the team. Hanson would then be traded to the Corpus Christi IceRays and play in 20 games with the South Division teams. The 6-foot-4 blueliner produced three assists in that span and ended his junior hockey career playing in the postseason for the first time in his junior career.

Hanson is one of ten members of the Corpus Christi IceRays to make a college ice hockey commitment.

Click here for an updated NAHL to NCAA commitment list